The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-24
DECEMBER "a, 1887.

aniOnS ehC "ihVhS. " Hei NdicJ HOult,
heartsick woman.
Counting her ways and means, she had
found that to pay for the items she had
promised Maud and had ordered for her
boy-the latter being the suit sent &C. o.
D." from Chicago would have to ask
favor of her patrons at the fort She had
arranged with the proprietor of the big va
riety store in town that he should set aside
for her certain beautiful doll and one of
the prettiest of the doll carriages, and that
she would come and get them on this very
afternoon. To meet her bills and these ex-
penses, and that there might be no disap-
pointment, she had addressed to the parents
of her few pupils modest little note, en-
closing her bill, and asking as kindness
to her that it might be paid by Saturday,
the 22nd. Courteous and prompt response
had come from all but two, and with the
money thus obtained she had settled her
little household accounts. Mrs. Vane and
Mrs. Potts, however, had vouchsafed no
reply, and it was to the mothers, not the
fathers, her notes had been addressed. On
Monday morning, therefore, when she went
to give Miss Adele her lesson, she ventured
to ask for Mrs. Potts, and Mrs. Potts was
out-spending the day at Mrs. Vanes. So
thither she went, and with flushing cheeks
and deep embarrassment inquired if the
ladies had received her notes. Mrs. Potts
had, and was overcome, she said, with dis
may. She had totally forgotten, and thought
it was next Saturday she meant; and now
the Captain had gone to town, and there
was no way she could get at him. Then
came Mrs. Vane's turn, Mrs. Vane, too,
had received her note, but she was not over
come. With much majesty of mien she
told the widow that she always paid her
bills on the last day of the quarter, and that
her husband was so punctilious about it and
so methodical that she never asked him to
depart from the rule Mrs. Carleton strove
hard to keep down her pride and the surg
ing impulse to cry out against such heart
less superiority of manner and Management
There was tinge Of reProach in the plea
she forced herself to make for her babies
sake. "You know there are no more les
sons this term, Mrs. Vane; my work is done;
and $50 needed it for Christmas or |
would not have asked" Aud she smiled
piteously through the starting tears Mrs.
Vane was sorry, very sorry. She could
hardly ask her husband to depart from his
lifelong practice, even if he were here, and
he, too, had gone to town.
Yes, everybody seemed to have gone or
sent to town for Christmas shopping Her
little ones were alone in having no one to
buy for them. Harold Ransom too was
going, for she saw the handsome roans come
dashing up the drive, as she rose, with a
burning sense of indignity, to take her leave.
She came upon Miss Pansy in the hallway
ak hooded and furred, and hasniizss--S'. !, :
bliss at the prospect of4asieigh ride to tow,
behind the roans, no doubt Never mind
that now Her heart was full of only one
thought-her babies. Where were now
her long-cherished schemes All Fort
Rains was blithe and jubilant over the COM
ing festivities; Maud was wild with antici-
patton; and she alone-she alone, who had
worked so hardand faithfully that her child
rem might find joy in their Christmas awak-
ing-she alone had seen her hopes turn to
ashes. In her pride and her vehement de-
termination to be "beholdenn to no one,
she would seek no help in her trouble.
She went home, asking only to be alone,
thankful that the children were spending
the day with friends in the garrison, and
could not be there to see the misery in her
eyes,
Full an hour she gave to her uncontroll-
able grief, locked in her room, sobbing in
utter prostration. Her eyes were still red
and swollen; she was weak, trembling, ex-
hausted, when the sudden sound of hoof-
beats reused her. The blood flew to her
cheeks. Despite her prohibition, then, he
was here. He had come again, and som e.
thing told her he had fathomed her trouble,
and would not be denied She heard the
quick, firm tread upon the steps, the imper-
alive rat-tat-tat of the whip handle on the
door. She could have called to her faithful
slave, Mrs. Malloy, the STRIKERS" wife, who
had known her from babyhood, and hidden
her tell the Captain she must be excused,
but it was too late. Bridget Malloy had
seen her face when she came home; had
vainly striven to enter her room and share
her sorrow; had shrewdly suspected the
cause of the trouble, and through the key
hole had poured forth voluble Hibernian
fealty and proffers Of every blessed cent of
her savings, but only to be implored to go
away and let her have her cry in peace.
Even had Mrs. Carleton ordered her to
deny her to her visitor, it is probable that
Mrs. Malloy would have obeyed-her own
instincts.
aSure it's glad am to see the Captain"
was her prompt greeting; @and it was a
black day that ever let ye go from her.
Come right in, and I'll call her to ye. It's
all broke up she is"
And so she had to come. There he
stood in the little sanctuary where Philip in
photographed beauty beamed down upon
her from over the mantel, and Philips
rustling sword hung like that of Damocles
by the fragile thread of sentiment that
bound her to the past There he stood
with such world Of tenderness, yearning,